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Five British and Irish Lions bolters from the Autumn Nations Series squads
By Josh Raisey
The international season is now upon us, and it is a season with added spice with the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in June and July.
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The squads have been announced, and the players will know that they have two international campaigns to turn Andy Farrell’s head, and there are some massive encounters for them to do so.
Scotland, England and Wales all host the world champions South Africa, England and Ireland host the All Blacks, and all four nations host the Wallabies, serving as a nice precursor to what will come at the end of the season. Huge matches, and huge opportunities for the players.
While Farrell may have a rough idea of the shape of his squad, there will still be plenty of wiggle room for any bolters to charm him.
There are new faces in the international game that had not even been selected in last year’s World Cup squads and now find themselves in the frame to earn one of rugby’s greatest honours. Here are five that have a shot:
Chandler Cunningham-South
Despite retiring from international rugby after last year’s World Cup, playing in France’s second division currently and set to turn 36 before the Lions land in Australia next year, Courtney Lawes has still found himself in plenty of predicted squads, and even starting XVs.
That is an indication of just how revered the former England captain is, but a third tour may just be a step too far for him. Who better to replace him in a Lions No 6 jersey than the person who has done that very job in an England one, Chandler Cunningham-South, and what a job he has done.
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In his first year of Test rugby, the 120kg 21-year-old has settled in nicely and ensured that England have not lost that physical presence in the back-row. Alongside the likely No 8 in Caelan Doris, and an openside like Josh van der Flier or Tom Curry, Cunningham-South would balance a back-row perfectly.
Ciaran Frawley
The man of the moment in Irish rugby after his drop-goal heroics to beat the Springboks in July, the question many Ireland fans are asking is whether the six-cap Ciaran Frawley has moved ahead of Jack Crowley in the Irish pecking order. We will soon find out.
With Ireland hosting the All Blacks in their opening match of the series, head coach Farrell will surely go with his strongest XV, so it is not long to go until Ireland know whether it is the Leinster or Munster No 10 who is now the incumbent.
Either way, the answer will be an indication as to who could work their way into Farrell potential Lions squad.
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In an era after Johnny Sexton, Dan Biggar and possibly even Owen Farrell – though the Englishman is still a contender despite playing in France – the Lions fly-half debate is an open one. Finn Russell? Likely. Marcus Smith? Probably. George Ford? Possibly. There are no certainties though, which hands the 26-year-old Frawley a golden chance this autumn.
Jamie Osborne
After a barnstorming debut series for Ireland, starting both Tests at full-back against South Africa in July, 22-year-old Jamie Osborne has a chance this autumn to lay a claim to start in the midfield with his Leinster team-mate Robbie Henshaw returning from injury.
This may be a low-percentage call, but versatility certainly helps in a Lions squad and Osborne provides that. Even if Henshaw isn’t fully fit, Osborne still needs to compete with Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose to start for Ireland, let alone the Lions, but July showed us that Farrell is keen on him.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Despite only being 21 years of age currently and with only six caps to his name, England’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso feels less like a bolter and more like a probable to be selected next year.
With four tries already in those six games, two of which coming against the All Blacks in July, the Exeter Chiefs star has already started to make waves on the Test circuit. With bags of pace and deceptive power, the trainee doctor could all but secure his place on next year’s tour with big performances for England in November when they play the All Blacks, Australia, South Africa and Japan at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.
Ben Spencer
Even if Farrell wasn’t coaching the Lions, Jamison Gibson-Park would be the favourite to start at scrum-half. But with Farrell at the helm, the Ireland No 9 might as well be given his jersey now.
England’s Alex Mitchell has emerged as his likely deputy over the past year, but after that, it’s anyone’s guess. Tomos Williams is a possibility, as is Ben White, but Bath’s Ben Spencer is probably the form No 9 in Britain and Ireland currently.
Club form does not guarantee international honours and it definitely doesn’t guarantee a Lions call-up, but a neck injury to Mitchell has handed Spencer an opportunity this autumn to add to his six caps, earn a starting berth for England and put himself in the shop window to wear that red jersey at the end of the season.
The added bonus is that Spencer will have experience playing alongside two fly-half contenders- Russell with Bath and Smith with England. With limited time to gel as a squad, such partnerships become invaluable.
